Sole laying machine



May 28, 1940. 5. J. FINN SOLE LAYING MACHINE Filed April 4, 1938 6Sheets-Sheet l May 28, 1940. s. J. FINN 2,201,996

. SOLE LAYING MACHINE Filed April 4, 1938 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 A/I/E/VT UR/J 4 Fm May 28, 1940, 5. J. FINN 2,201,99

SOLE LAYING MACHINE Filed April 4, 1938 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fig.-

May 28,1940. s. JJFINN v 2,201,996

. SOLE LAYING MACHINE Filed April 4, 1938 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 May 28, 1940.s. J. FlNN 9 SOLE LAYING momma Filed April 4, 1938 s Sheets-Shet 5 i 73Z k 4 475 .40! 4s! v I f; 477

May 28, "19400 s, J. FINN 2,201,996

SOLE LAYING MACHINE 7 Filed April 4, 1938 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 595 56; 1 I567 593 57/ I: 59/ 589 57a AWE/WU l aten ted May 28, 1940 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFKIE Shoe Machinery Corporation,

Borough of Flemington, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey ApplicationApril 4, 1938, Serial No. 199,794

48 Claims.

This invention relates to sole laying machines and is herein illustratedas embodied in a machine for laying or pressing an unvulcanized rubbersole upon the bottom of a lasted shoe.

In the manufacture of shoes having rubber soles it has been customary toemploy machines having a pressure box or chamber for fluid one wall ofwhich comprises a flexible rubber diaphragm, the shoe being supportedagainst pressure exerted through the diaphragm upon the sole which is tobe laid or pressed. In general such machines are of two types. In onetype the volume of fluid in the box is constant, the fluid pressurenecessary to distend the diaphragm being secured by relative movement ofapproach of the jack and the pressure box. In the other type, fluid isforced into the pressure box to distend the diaphragm. In either case,however, fluid pressure is applied through the diaphragm to the sole ofthe shoe.

Unvulcanized rubber soles commonly extend over the heels of the shoes towhich they are attached, and the proper laying of the shank portions ofthe soles of high arched shoes presents difficulties which increase withthe increase in the heights of the arches. When the arch of a shoe ishigh, a force of considerable magnitude must be applied to that portionof the diaphragm which bridges the arch from the bottom of the heel tothe ball line of the shoe. It is difiicult, if not impossible, to applya force of suflicient magnitude by fluid pressure against the diaphragm,since there is danger that the diaphragm, which must be suflicientlyflexible and whose strength is therefore limited, may burst at somelocality, for example where it is forced up around the edge of thebottom of the shoe. Aside from this danger there is another circumstancewhich limits the fluid pressure which can be applied through thediaphragm, namely the liability of distorting the sole at localitiesother than the shank.

According to one feature of the present invention, means are providedfor exerting, upon the shank portion of the sole, a force ofcomparatively great magnitude independent of the magnitude of thepressure of fluid exerted. through the diaphragm against the remainingportions of the sole. In the illustrated construction, a shank n presseris located beneath the diaphragm and is adapted to exert pressure uponthe shank portion of the sole by reason of relative movement of approachbetween the shank presser and the shoe, the presser being adapted toyield when a certain 55 predetermined pressure has been exerted by itand to maintain this pressure substantially uniform during its yieldingmovement.

When pressure is applied to the bottom of a lasted shoe supportedagainst such pressure by a jack or other support which engages the topof the last, there is a liability that the shoe may not be placedproperly in the machine and may tip sidewise during the application ofpressure. In order to avoid such an occurrence there is provided inaccordance with another feature of the invention mechanism forsustaining the shoe against tipping. In the illustrated construction twosupporting members are provided above the diaphragm between which a shoeis thrust when it is presented to the machine, these members beingadjustable toward and from each other to provide for shoes of differentsizes.

These and other features of the invention including certain details ofconstruction and combinations of parts will be described as embodied inan illustrated machine and pointed in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

Fig. l is a view partly in front elevation and partly in section of amachine in which the invention' is embodied;

Fig. 2 is a detail in elevation of a portion of the jack post and theadjustable member carried by it for engaging the top of a last; Fig. 3is a vertical section upon an enlarged scale of a portion of the machineafter the piston has begun its upward movement to force fluid into thepressure box;

Fig. 4 is a plan of that portion of the machine which is below thediaphragm;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line V-V of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a view looking down upon the top of the machine, with the jackcarrier shown in dotand-dash lines, said figure showing moreparticularly the mechanism for preventing tipping of the lasted shoe;

Fig. 7 is a detail partly in section and partly in elevation showing thediaphragm distended and the shank presser in process of pressing theshank portion of the sole into place;

Fig. 8 is a section on the line VIIIV11I of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a section on the line IXIX of Fig. 7;

Fig. 10 is a perspective of the pad which forms the shank presser;

Fig. 11 is a view partly in front elevation and partly in section of amodified form of the invention embodied in a type of machine in whichthe volume of fluid in the pressure box is constant; and

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 11 of a second modification.

The general construction and mode of operation of the machine of Figures1 to 10 is similar to that of the machine of United States LettersPatent No. 1,920,977, granted August 8, 1933, upon an application filedin my name; and before what is new is described a brief description ofwhat is old will be given. Referring to Fig. 1 the machine comprises apressure box l5, the upper wall of which is a flexible diaphragm llherein illustrated as consisting of two layers of rubber. Inside the boxis a plate 19 supported by two pairs of cams 2i, 22 all four cams beingshown in dotted lines in Fig, 4, the two members of each pair beingconnected respectively by links 23, 26. The left-hand cam 2| is loose ona sleeve, which is integral with the hub of a small arm l23, said sleevebeing mounted on a rockshaft 25. The left-hand cam 22 (Fig. 4) isloosely mounted on a horizontal stud 26 carried by the pressure box. Theright-hand cam 21 and the right-hand cam 22 are pinned to a rockshaft21. The rockshaft 27 protrudes through a wall of the box l5 and has fastto it the upper end of a crank 29 the lower end of which has slidablymounted in it a spring-pressed handle 3! provided at its inner end witha looking pin which, when the handle is pulled out and swung to theleft, may be caused to enter any one of a plurality of holes in astationary member 33. It is thus possible to adjust the plate 19 intovarious vertical positions so as to determine the vertical position ofthe shoe when it is placed upon the diaphragm preparatory to beingoperated upon. The plate adjusting mechanism differs slightly from thecorresponding mechanism of the patented machine but forms no part of thepresent invention.

A lasted shoe I00, with an unvulcanized rubber sole 2G5 properly locatedon its bottom as indicated in Fig. 1, is placed upon the diaphragm withits rear end against the rubber covered edge of a rear plate 35. Atreadle is then depressed, whereupon the following movements take place.A jack carrier 31, which carries a jack post 39, swings horizontally tobring the jack post above the top of the last; a toe plate 4!, whichcarries a toe pad 43, moves in; and two side plates, the. rubber coverededge of one of which is shown at 45, move into contact with or close tothe sides of the shoe, and at the same time the toe pad 43 moves downinto engagement with the top of the toe portion of the shoe. The partsof the machine are then in the positions shown in Fig. 1, and act bothto hold the shoe against upward pressure presently to be applied and toafford a support for the marginal portions of the diaphragm which isabout to be distended and Wrapped about the lower part of the shoe. Afluid pressure device such as a water pump comprising a cylinder 41 anda piston 49 now acts to force water under pressure into the pad box tocause the diaphragm to press the sole against the shoe. The pressure,which can be regulated, is maintained for a short interval and then thepiston moves away from the diaphragm to withdraw fluid from the pressurebox; the side plates are withdrawn; the toe pad is lifted; the toe plateis withdrawn, and the jack carrier swings to one side to remove the jackpost from above the top of the last. The shoe is now removed, anotherone put in place, and the machine is caused again to go through itscycle of movements. The stroke of the piston 49 is always the same, butthe maximum pressure of the fluid in the box can be regulated, fluidbeing allowed to escape into a reservoir when the desired maximumpredetermined pressure has been reached. No further description of whatis old will be given, reference being made to the patent for details notherein described.

In the illustrated shoe, which is a womens gum gaiter having a higharch, the pressure applied to the forepart and to the heel end of thesole should be of the order of twenty pounds or less per square inch,since any markedly greater pressure is liable to distort the sole, forexample by stretching it up about the rear edge of the heel. In thissame shoe, however, the pressure necessary to lay the shank portion ofthe sole properly should be of the order of several times that which isnecessary to lay the heel and forepart portions. The present inventionas has been stated provides a construction whereby a pressure ofcomparatively great magnitude may be applied to the shank portion of thesole independent of the magnitude of the fluid pressure applied to theremaining portions of the sole.

To this end a shank presser in the form of a rubber pad 5: (Figs. '7 to10) located beneath the diaphragm ll is adapted to be pushed up into thearch at the shank portion of the shoe. This pad is preferably ofresilient material such as rubber and of the shape shown best in Fig.10, its forward end at the lower portion being formed with a downwardlyextending flange 52 to fit over a shoulder formed at one end of an arm55 which is provided with upturned sides to form a sort of socket toengage the ends of the pad. The pad is removably fastened in the socketso that it may readily be replaced. To this end the stems of studs 53,which have cylindrical portions surmounted by conical heads the bases ofwhich are of greater diameter than that of the cylindrical portions, areriveted to the arm 55; and the pad 5i is provided in its lower part withtwo sockets each consisting of a small chamber 54 the diameter of whichis approximately equal to the diameter of the bases of the conical headsof the studs 53. From the bottom of each chamber leads a hole having aflaring mouth, the diameter of the main portion of each hole beingapproximately equal to or slightly less than the diameter of thecylindrical portions of the studs 53. Since the pad is made of elasticmaterial, it can readily be put in place by placing it with the flaringmouths of the holes over the tops of the conical heads of the studs 53and exerting a downward pressure; and it can be removed by pulling itup. The pad (Fig. 10) is formed with two upstanding projections, thetops of which slope inwardly as indicated at 56 to the upright walls ofan opening or notch 58. On that side of the pad which, when the pad isin the machine, presses the diaphragm against the breast of the heel ofthe shoe, there is a depression '69 along the edges of the notch oropening 53. Referring now to Figs. 8 and 9, which show the pad in theposition it occupies when it is pressed into the arch of a shoe, Fig. 9shows how the breast of the heel is received in the depression 65 sothat the opposite edges of the sole 200 are firmly pressed against thecorners of the breast of the heel. Fig. 8 shows how the pad iscompressed until the pad exerts a pressure upon the greater part ofthewidth of the sole, there being only a small area along thelongitudinal middle of the sole where the diaphragm is not receivingpressure from the pad. As the pad is forced up, the bottom of the shoe(covered of course by the diaphragm) encounters first the slopingsurfaces 56 the area of which is comparatively small; but as thepressure increases thepad is deformed, as shown in Fig. 8, until thesole from its opposite edges to a narrow locality at its longitudinalmiddle is receiving pressure from the pad applied to all points indirections which are substantially perpendicular to the sole at thosepoints.

The outer end of the arm 55 (the left-hand end as viewed in Fig. 4) ispivoted about a pin 5! carried by a bracket 59 which is fastened to thepressure box by a cap screw 6|. The arm 55 is connected at its inner endby two links 63 with the ends of the arms of a yoke 65 the base of whichis pivoted about a horizontal pin 61 carried by a bracket 69 which isfastened to the pressure box |5 by a cap screw ll. With thisconstruction the shank presser may be swung up by swinging up the yoke65 about its pivot fil to cause the shank presser 5| to lay the shankportion of the sole.

The yoke is so swung up when the piston (.9 of the pump moves up toforce fluid into the pressure box and thereby to distend the diaphragm.In Fig. 3 the piston has begun its upward movement; the diaphragm isbeing distended, and the shank presser 5| is being moved up into thearch of the shoe but as yet has encountered little resistance. The yoke65 is swung up by two pins 13, both shown in Fig. 5, which are held insockets at opposite sides of a small plunger 15 by set screws 71, saidpins extending through vertical slots 19 in a small cylinder 8| in whichthe plungerl5 is mounted. This small cylinder rests in a cylindricalsocket formed in the top of the piston 49 of the pump and is held fromturning by a pin 83 (Fig. 3) which extends into a vertical groove 85formed in the wall of the cylinder 8|. There is at all times in thecylinder 8| in the space beneath the plunger 5 a quantity of fluid, theamount varying according to the position of the plunger in the cylinder;and this fluid, which is trapped in the cylinder, causes the plunger tomove up when the cylinder is moved up until the pressure of fluid risesto such a point that a relief valve 97 backed by a compression spring89, the tension of which can be varied by a screw 9|, is opened topermit fluid to flow from the cylinder 8| through a port 93 into thepressure box I5. Thus, as the piston 49 arises and carries with it thecylinder 8|, the two pins 13 swing up the yoke 95 until the shankpresser 5|, through the diaphragm H has pressed the shank portion of thesole against the bottom of the shoe with sufficient force to raise thepressure of fluid in the cylinder M to a point at which the relief valve8'! is opened. With a shoe of the type illustrated, the compresionspring 89 would be set to hold the valve 8l closed until a pressure ofsay 200 pounds per square inch had been reached by the fluid in thecylinder 8|.

Assuming that the area of the end of the plunger '19 is live squareinches, then the pressure on the lever would be one thousand pounds persquare inch. The leverage is such that about five hundred pounds wouldbe exerted by the shank presser upon the bottom of the shoe; andassuming that the area of contact of the presser and the diaphragm isabout three square inches, the shank presser would exert about onehundred and sixty-six pounds per square inch. Themaximum pressure offluid in-the pressure box l5, due to the rise of the piston 49, isregulated by varying the tension of a spring upon a. valve, as in thepatented machine and as described in detail in United States LettersPatent No. 1,902,- 399, granted March 21, 1933, upon an applicationfiled in my name; and the pressure in the pressure box would be set inthe present case at twenty-pounds or less per square inch. It will beunderstood that the figures given above as to the magnitude of thepressure exerted by the fluid in the box and by the shank presser arenot asserted to be accurate and have been given merely to illustratethat the two pressures may differ greatly in magnitude and that thepressure of the shank presser may be varied independently of that of thefluid in the pressure box.

It should be particularly noted that the plunger 15 which supports theshank presser is rigid with its cylinder 8| and does not yield withrespect to it until the pressure of fluid in the cylinder 8| has risento a predetermined magnitude such that the relief valve 81 opens; andthat during the whole extent of the relative movement be. tween theplunger 15 and the cylinder 8| the magnitude of this pressure remainsuniform, being determined by the adjusted force exerted by the spring 89on the relief valve 81.

When the relief valve 81 opens, some of the fluid in the cylinderescapes into the pressure box I5 through the small port 93. In order toraise the plunger with respect to the cylinder 8| so as to draw fluidinto the cylinder 8| when the piston 49 of the pump moves down towithdraw fluid from the pressure box, the plunger is supported by acoiled spring 95 and is provided with an inlet port 91 controlled by acheck valve 99 supported upon the upper end of the stem of a screw NHwhich is threaded into a portion of the plunger. In the position ofparts shown in Fig. 3, this valve is still open because the pressure offluid in the cylinder 8| and in the ports and chambers in the piston 15is the same as or differs very little from that in the pressure box. Assoon, however, as the pres-sure of fluid in the cylinder 8| rises to anyconsiderable extent over that in the pressure box I5 the check valve 99will be closed and will remain closed during the application of pressureto the shoe. When the cylinder 8| is carried down with the piston 49,the valve 99 will open and permit fluid to flow into the cylinder 8!.When the piston 49 comes to rest in its lowest position (Fig. 1),although some fluid has been withdrawn from the pressure box I5 torelieve the pressure on the diaphragm, there is a considerable amount offluid in the lower portion of the box, and the cylinder of the pumpabove the piston is filled with fluid. Consequently, when the piston 49starts its upward movement, the space below the plunger 15 in thecylinder 8| and the various ports and openings in the plunger are fullof fluid.

Since in laying soles on shoes which have low arches, for example,tennis shoes, no shank presser is necessary, it is desirable to providemeans for rendering it inoperative when desired. To this end, theillustrated machine is provided with two latches 35, I01 (Figs. 4, 5)which may be swung into positions respectively above the arms of theyoke 65 to prevent this yoke from being swung up. When these latcheshave been swung'into operative position as shown in Fig. 5, the upwardmovement of the plunger 15 is arrested when the pins 13 encounter theunder sides of the arms of the yoke 65, the yokeitself being preventedfrom swinging up by the latches. The cylinder SI can continue to move upbecause of the slots 79 through which the pins 73 project; and, whenthis upward movement of the cylinder raises the pressure of fluid withinthis cylinder suficiently, the relief valve 8! (Fig. 3) opens. When theshank presser is being used, the latches Hi5, If)? occupy theirinoperative position (Fig. l) but at any time when the pump piston #39is down at the end of a cycle of movement, these latches may be swunginto their operative positions (Fig. 5) and the shank presser therebyrendered inoperative. The latch I05 (Figs. l, 5) extends into a slot ina heavy bracket I09 fastened to the pressure box support by cap screwsHI, said bracket having an upwardly extending portion through whichpasses a screw bolt H3 which is threaded through said portion andengages a wall of the pressure box so as to brace the bracket againstthe upward push of the yoke 85 when the latch is in the operativeposition shown in Fig. 5. The latch I05 is pivoted at its outer end tothe bracket about a vertical stud IE5. Near its inner end the latch hasrotatably mounted in it the stem of a small yoke i ll between the armsof which a horizontal pivot I holds the middle portion of a bent linkI2! (Fig. 1). This link is pivoted at its left-hand end to the small arm23, the hub of which has integral with it a sleeve, said hub beingpinned to the inner end of the rockshaft 25 which is mounted in bearingsin the pressure box I5. This rockshaft (Fig. 4) extends out through awall of the pressure box and has fast to it the upper end of a crank I2?the lower end of which carries a handle 529 having at its inner end apin i3I. The handle is horizontally slidable in the crank I27, beingnormally held in its innermost position by a spring 133 with the pin I3Iin a hole in a stationary member; but the handle maybe pulled out at anytime and swung to the left (Fig. 1) until the pin is in register with asecond hole E into which it is thrust by the spring when the handle 29is released. When the handle is so swung to the left, the latch is swungfrom its inoperative position (Fig. i) to its operative position (Fig.5); and the other latc- I87, through various connections, is also swungin the same manner. To this end, the right-hand end of the bent link l2I(Fig. 4) is pivoted to a small arm E3? the hub of which has integralwith it one end of a sleeve I39 with the other end of which is integralthe hub of another short arm ii, the hubs of the two small arms 37, 5 3iand the sleeve I39 being mounted for rocking movement on the rockshaft27. To the short arm I I is pivoted one end of a link the other end ofwhich is pivoted between the arms of a small yoke Hi5 (Fig. 5) thevertical stem of which is rotatably carried by the latch I0! in the samemanner that the small y m ill is car"'ed by the latch IE5. The latchL'Ji is mounted in a manner s ar to that of the latch I85. It extendsinto a slot in a heavy bracket Hi9 which is held in place by cap screws5i and pressed by a set screw I53. With the above construction, when itis desired to render the shank pressing device inoperative, the handle92.; (Fig. 1) is pulled out and swung to the left until the pin at itsinner end is opposite the hole 535 whereupon the handle is released.When this has been done the latches I05, I01 have been swung into theiroperative positions (Fig. 5) in which they arrest the upward movement ofthe plunger '15 when the pins 13 which project from the sides of theplunger and extend through the slots I9 in the cylinder 8I engage theyoke 65. As the piston 49 of the pump continues its upward stroke thecylinder 8| rises with the piston, and when the pressure of fluid insidethe cylinder rises sufficiently the valve 8'! opens and permits fluid toescape.

When pressure is applied to the bottom of a lasted shoe supportedagainst such pressure by a jack or other member which engages the top ofthe last, there is a liability that the shoe may not be placed properlyin the machine and may tip sidewise when pressure is applied. In orderto facilitate proper placing of the shoe in the machine prior to theapplication of pressure and to support the shoe against sidewise tippingduring the application of pressure, there is provided a device for thispurpose. The machine, as has been explained, is provided with a jackcarrier 37 (Fig. l) which carries the jack post 39. Referring to Fig. 6,this jack carrier is mounted to swing about a vertical pivot I65 as inthe patented machines and is automatically swung during the operation ofthe machine first to bring the jack post 39 into operative positionabove the top of the last 390 prior to the applica tion of pressure tothe sole of the shoe; and, after the pressure has been withdrawn, it isswung to inoperative position so as to permit the finished shoe to beremoved and another shoe placed in the machine. In Figs. 1 and 6 thejack carrier 3'! is shown in its operative position in which the jackpost 39 is above the top of the last. The shoe locating and supportingdevice comprises two arms I61, I69 which are opened when the jackcarrier 3! is swung into inoperative position and are caused to movetoward each other until there is a proper space between them when thejack carrier is swung into operative position. These arms are pivotedrespectively to arms 261, I59 about horizontal pivots I'II, I13 so thatthe enlarged ends 367, 369, which engage the shoe, may partake of thesli ht up-and-down movement of the shoe and may therefore not be liableto drag over the shoe and thereby mar it. The arms 267, 2'39 are pivotedrespectively about the stems of screws I15, Ill which are threaded intoa stationary bracket I19 fastened to the frame of the machine by capscrews I8I. The arm 26'! has a notch in its rear end to receive a pinI83 carried by the rear end of the arm 269 so that the arms are gearedtogether and are compelled to swing equally in opposite directions; andthe arms have rearwardly projecting tails which are continually urged tomove apart by a coiled spring I85 surrounding a rod I8! which passesloosely through openings in the tails and is held in place by cotterpins I89. A set screw ISI which passes through a lug on the arm 26?engages the end of the bracket I19 and limits the extent of approach ofthe shoe engaging members 367, 369. In the position of parts shown thesemembers are engaging the sides of a shoe. After the shoe has beenoperated upon, the jack carrier will be swung to the left (Fig. 6) aboutits pivot I65 to move the jack post 39 to one side so as to permitremoval of the shoe, and this swinging of the jack carrier opens thearms I67, I 69 so as to facilitate such removal. In order to cause suchopening of the arms as well as to permit the arms to be opened by handat any time if desired, the arm 269 is provided with a lug I93 which isengaged by an arm I95, said arm being pivoted about the stem of thescrew ill] "stantially the same as the machine disclosed in Ill andbeing connected with the arm 269 by a tension spring I91 the upper endof which extends about a pin I99 driven into the arm I95 and the lowerend of which extends through the eye of an eyebolt carried by the arm269. The arm I95 is provided with a curved cam surface 293 which forms atrack for a cam roll 29,5 rotatably mounted in a small bracket 29? whichis fastened to the jack carrier 37 by a screw 209; the path of bodilymovement of the axis of the roll 295 being shown in Fig. 6 by thedotand-dash line 2. The spring I91 is stronger than the spring I85.Consequently when the jack carrier 31 is swung to the left about thepivot 55 and the roll 295 moves from its full to its dot-and-dash lineposition, the arms ltl, 69 are opened to permit ready removal of theshoe. When the jack carrier 31 is swung back into the position shown,these arms are swung together into the positions shown so that the upperportion of the shoe may be engaged by "them. Inasmuch as the upperportions of shoes differ in width it is necessary that the arms, whentheir operative ends are nearest to each other, should be the properdistance apart. The adjustment for this is accomplished while the armsH51, H59 are in the position shown by turning the screw F9! to separatethe arms.

The jack post 39 (Figs. 1, 2) carries at its lower end a contact block 2l3 which is pivoted at 2 IE to a block 2H. Two small compression springs219 are located in sockets in the blocks, one spring at each side of thepivot pin 2 I 5, to maintain the operative face of the contact block 2l3substantially horizontal when it is not above the top of a last.Otherwise the block might tip and engage the side of the last near thetop when the jack carrier 3'! was swung into the position shown. Theblock 2!! has an upper end which is T-shaped in cross-section and isslidable horizontally in a suitably shaped guideway formed in a smallcasting 22 9, said casting being fastened to the lower reduced end ofthe jack post 39 by a taper pin 22 l In one side of the upper portion ofthe block 2 I! is a horizontal row of slots 223 adapted to receive theend of a locking pin 225 which is slidable in a horizontal bore in thecasting 229 and is urged inward at all times by a leaf spring 221 theforked right-hand end of which (Fig. l) engages a collar on the pin andthe left-hand end of which is fastened to the casting 220 by a screw229. The contact member 2l9 may thus be adjusted horizontally forwardand back in the direction ofthe length of the shoe. This adjustment isparticularly desirable when the shank presserv is being used, since thecontact block 2&3 can be adjusted into a position to oppose the upwardthrust of the shank presser in such manner that the tendency which theshoe would otherwise have to tip up at its toe portion may becounteracted. In fact, it is possible with this adjustablecontact memberto do away with the use of the toe pad 43 when the shank presser isbeing used.

In Fig, 11 a modified form of shank pressing mechanism is shown asembodied in a machine in which fluid pressure is applied to a sole onthe bottom of a shoe, not by forcing fluid into the pressure box as inthe machine of Figs. 1 to 10, but by causing relative movement ofapproach between the shoe and the pressure box; and in which the shankpresser is operated by this relative movement and not as in the machineof Figs. 1 to 6, by a moving part of the machine which is outside thepressure box. The machine, aside from the shank pressing device is ormay be sub- United States Letters Patent No. 1,988,772, grant- .edJanuary 22, 1935, upon an application filed in the name of William S.Ashton, except that the patented machine employs two spaced diaphragmsboth fluid supported, whereas the present machine has a singlediaphragm, which may, of course, consist of several layers if desired,the pressure box being indicated at 4M and the diaphragm at 493, saiddiaphragm being held in place over the open top of the box by anapertured plate 495 and cap screws 491.

Before describing in detail the construction and operation of the shankpressing mechanism, the general construction and mode of operation ofwhat is old will be briefly described. The pressure box is filled to thedesired level with a fluid, preferably a substantially incompressiblefluid such as water, and the volumev of the fluid in the box remainsconstant during the sole pressing operation. The pressure box Mil issupported upon standards two of which are shown at 498. Bolted to thebottom of the box is a compressed air cylinder 499 in which a piston MIis slidable. When a treadle (not shown) is depressed to pull down aslide rod M3, a chain M5 rotates a sprocket wheel M1 in one direction,and this acts to turn a valve (not shown) into a position to permitcompressed air to be forced into the cylinder above the piston MI and toconnect the space below the piston with the atmosphere. The piston isthus moved down. When the treadle is released, compressed air is forcedinto the space beneath the piston 4| 1, and the space above it isconnected with the atmosphere.

Threaded on the piston rod M9 is a hand wheel 32! the hub of which isreceived between cross bars 323 at the lower portion of a verticallyslidable frame which includes these two bars, two upright rods 425 and across-head 421 which is carried at the upper ends of the rods. Theserods are vertically slidable in bearings formed in heavy lugs which areintegral with the sides of the pressure box, one of these lugs beingshown at 429. The cross-head 42'! carries a jack or shoe support havinga member 43I which contacts with the top of the last 399 and-a toe rest433 which contacts with the top of the toe portion of the shoe. When nowthe treadle rod M3 is pulled down to cause the piston 4H to descend, thelasted shoe is pulled down, the water in the pressure box is displacedto an extent; the diaphragm is deformed, and fluid pressure is appliedthroughout the sole 299 on the bottom of the shoe, the extent to whichthe piston moves down being adjustably controlled by a stop device (notshown) which is threaded on the lower part of the piston rod M9 andcontacts with a part of the frame of the machine. When the treadle rodrises, the parts return to the positions shown. The machine is providedwith a pressure gage (not shown) located ina pipe which is connectedwith the interior of the pressure box so as to indicate the pressurecaused by the descent of the shoe, and there may be in this pipe arelief valve which may be adjusted so that a desired maximum pressurecan not be exceeded. No further description of the machine as thus fardescribed will be given, reference being made to the patent for detailsof construction not herein shown or described. It will be understood,however, that the machine outlined above is intended merely as anexample of sole-laying machines in which the pressure box contains apredetermined con- The piston is' then moved back into thepositionshown.

stant volume of fluid, and relative movement of approach between the boxand the shoe support causes the diaphragm to be distended and pressedagainst the bottom of the shoe.

In order to apply to the shank portion of the sole a predeterminedpressure which is independent of the pressure of the fiuid in thepressure boX so that a considerably greater pressure and one of a chosenmagnitude can be applied at this 10- cality while maintaining a lowermaximum pressure in the box, a shank pressing device similar to that ofthe machine of Figs. 1 to 10 is employed. A shank pad l5l like that ofFigs. 7 to 10 is removably mounted in the same manner upon a carrier 355of rigid material. This carrier is fast to or integral with the top of aplunger 457 slidably mounted in a cylinder 459, said plunger beingsupported upon a coiled spring 361. The space in the cylinder beneaththe plunger communicates through openings in the plunger with an outletport 262 controlled by a ball valve 463 held in place by a compressionspring 455 the tension of which may be varied by turning a screw 661.This space also communicates with an inlet port controlled by a ballvalve 89 supported on the upper end of a screw i! l, all of thisconstruction of plunger and cylinder being substantially like thecorresponding construction shown in the machine of Figs. 1 to 10. In themachine of Fig. 11, the cylinder 559 has formed integral with it a lever3'53 pivoted at a point near its outer end about a pin 575 carried bylugs which are integral with the bottom of the pressure box llll. Theouter end of the lever is forked to receive between its arms a nut ill,square in horizontal crosssection. through which is threaded a screw419. Projecting from opposite sides of the nut M"! are two plus, oneshown at 48 I, which are received in horizontal slots formed in the armsof the forked lever 473. The stem of the screw 419 pass es through ahole in the bottom of the box, leakage of water being prevented by astufling box the gland 433 of which may be screwed against a packing385. A collar d3! integral with the screw 79 prevents downward movementof the screw, and an adjustable collar A89 which is held in placeagainst the gland 333 by a set screw 49I prevents upward movement of thescrew. When therefore the screw is turned by means of a handhold 493,which is threaded on its lower end and fastened by a set screw, theshank pressing device is raised or lowered.

In the position of parts shown in Fig. 11 before the shoe has beenpulled down, the space below the plunger 35'! and the channels andpassageways in the plunger are full of water since the spring ilil hasraised the plunger and thereby drawn water into the cylinder andplunger; and the water in the pressure box is not under pressure. When ashoe I0!) is put in place as shown and the jack moves down until thepressure of fluid in the cylinder 459 becomes greater than that in thepressure box, the valve 369 closes. Thereafter, until a certainpredetermined pressure (determined by the adjustment of the screw 35'?)has been attained in this cylinder, the shank pad is rigidly supported.It continues to be so supported, so that the only effect of furtherpressure of the shoe against the pad is to deform the pad, until thepressure in the cylinder rises to the predetermined pressure and theoutlet valve 463 opens to relieve the pressure by allowing fluid toescape into the pressure box. Ihe time at which this predeterminedpressure is reached relative to the extent of downward movement of theshoe may be predetermined by manipulating the screw 419 to cause theshank pad to assume a higher or a lower initial position.

In the operation of the machine the two factors which determine themaximum pressure to be applied to the forepart and heel of the sole,namely the amount of fluid in the pressure box and the extent ofdownward movement of the jack will be so regulated that the desiredmaximum pressure of fiuid in the box will be attained roach of two partsof the machine one of which is the jack, by means of a fluid-pressurecontrolled support for the shank presser. In Fig. 12 there is shown athird embodiment of the invention in which the same result is obtainedby the use of a spring the length of which is so great relative to theextent to which it is compressed that the magnitude of the force exertedby it during such compression is substantially uniform.

The machine, aside from the means for supporting the shank presser inthe pressure box is substantially the same as the machine shown in Fig.11 and therefore only a small portion of the machine has been shown. Thepressure box 56! has a flexible diaphragm 593 extending across its topand is supported on standards two of 3;!

which are shown at 598. Bolted to the bottom of the box is a cylinder509 which contains a fluid operated piston which acts to pull down ajack. the toe rest of which is indicated at 533, to force down a lastedshoe I06 having located on its bot- 1 tom a sole 209 of unvulcanizablerubber. As thus far described the machine is the same as the one shownin Fig. 11 and shown and described in detail in United States LettersPatent No. 1,938,772 referred to above.

A shank presser 55! of rubber and of the same shape as the shankpressers of the machines of Figs. 1 and 11 is mounted at the right-handend of an arm 553, the left-hand end of which is pivoted about a pin 555carried by a lug formed on a wall of the pressure box. The arm 553 hasat its right-hand end a pivot pin 55'! upon which is pivoted the upperend of a link 559, the lower end of which is pivoted at 56I to theleft-hand end of a lever 583 which is pivoted at its middle at 565 tothe upwardly turned end of an arm 5ST pivoted at its other end at 569 to2. lug formed on a wall of the pressure box, said arm near its left-handend carrying a roll 5H which rests upon a wedge 553.

The lever 563 at its right-hand end is connected I by a link 575 withthe upper end of a long rod 57? which passes down through a hole in thebottom of the pressure box and a stulfing box, and the lower threadedend of which passes freely through a guide bore in a lug 579 carried byone of the standards 508. A long heavy coiled spring Bill is confinedbetween the gland 583 of the stuffing box and a nut 585 threaded on therod 517, a check nut 58'! being provided to hold the nut 585 fromturning. The wedge 573 is slidablc lengthwise of the box and the shoe ina guideway formed in a projection on the lower wall of the box, and thisWedge may be adjusted by turning a screw 589 which is threaded into thewedge. The smooth stem of the screw passes through a hole in a wall ofthe pressure box and through a second stuffing box, and is held fromlongitudinal movement by a collar 59! and the hubof a handle 593, boththese members being fastened to the stem. The collar engages a bossformed on a wall of the box and the hub engages the gland 595 of thestufling box.

When new the shoe is pulled down to cause the pressure of fluid in thebox to press the sole against the bottom of the shoe, the lever 553remains stationary until the pressure exerted by the downwardly movingshoe upon the shank presser is suflicient to overcome the resistance ofthe spring 56L after which the supporting lever 553 and the shankpresser move down with the shoe. The extent of this downward movement ofthe shank presser and its support is small being of the order of aboutone inch; and, with the connection shown, the spring 58! is compressedonly through this small extent. The spring is a heavy one and itslength, which may be several feet, is such, in comparison to the extentto which it is compressed, that the pressure exerted by the shankpresser from beginning to end of the compression of the spring issubstantially uniform. The initial position of the shank presser may bevaried by adjusting the wedge 513 to the right. or left; and the shankpresser may thus be lowered into an inoperative position if desired toprovide for shoes having arches so low that no pressure other than thatof the fluid in the pressure box is desirable.

Although the invention has been set forth as embodied in machines inwhich the flexible solepressing members are diaphragms constituting onewall of a pressure box containing fluid, it should be understood thatthe invention is not limited in the scope of its application to themachines Which have been shown and described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a pressurebox for fluid one wall of which comprises a flexible diaphragm forpressing a sole against the bottom of a shoe, a jack for supporting theshoe against pressure applied through the diaphragm, a shank presser,means for causing the shank presser to be forced against the diaphragm,and means for varying said force irrespective of the fluid pressure inthe box.

2. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a pressurebox for fluid one wall of which comprises a flexible diaphragm forpressing a sole against the bottom of a shoe, a jack for supporting theshoe against pressure applied through the diaphragm, a shank presser,and means for causing the shank presser to be forced against thediaphragm with a force of predetermined and adjustable magnitudeirrespective of the fluid pressure in the box. 1

3. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a pressurebox for fluid one wall of which comprises a flexible diaphragm forpressing a sole against the bottom of a shoe, a jack for supporting theshoe against pressure applied through the diaphragm, a shank presser andmeans for causing the presser to press the shank portion of the soleagainst the shank portion of the shoe, said means including a supportfor the presser capable of bodily yielding movement, and means forcausing the support to prevent such movement until a predeterminedpressure is exerted by e pre s p n the sole, and for thereafterpermitting such movement while maintaining the pressure substantiallyunchanged.

i. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a pressurebox for fluid one wall of which comprises a flexible diaphragm forpressing a sole against the bottom of a shoe, a jack for supporting theshoe against pressure applied through the diaphragm, a shank presser,and means for causing the presser to press the shank portion of the soleagainst the shank portion of the shoe, said means including a supportfor the presser capable of bodily yielding movement, and means forcausing the support to prevent such movement until a predeterminedpressure is exerted. by the presser upon the sole, and for thereafterpermitting such movement while maintaining the pressure substantiallyunchanged.

5. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a fluidsupported flexible diaphragm for pressing a sole against the bottom of ashoe, a jack for supporting the shoe against pressure applied throughthe diaphragm, a member, means for producing relative movement ofapproach between the jack and the member to cause the diaphragm to pressthe sole against the bottom of the shoe, a shank presser carried by saidmember and connecting means between said member and presser for causingsaid presser to exert a pressure of predetermined magnitude when acertain part of said relative movement has taken place and for exertingsubstantially the same magnitude of pressure during the remainder ofsaid relative movement.

6. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a pressurebox for fluid one wall of which comprises a flexible diaphragm forpressing a sole against the bottom of a shoe, a jack for supporting theshoe against pressure applied through the diaphragm, a shank presser,means for causing relative movement of approach between the presser andthe shoe, and means capable of yielding for supporting the presserconstructed and arranged to cause a pressure of a predeterminedmagnitude to be applied by the presser irrespective of the extent of theyielding movement of said supporting means.

'7. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a pressurebox for fluid one wall of which comprises a flexible diaphragmfor-pressing a sole against the bottom of a shoe, a jack for supportingthe shoe against pressure applied through the diaphragm, a shankpresser, means for causing the presser to press the shank portion of thesole against the bottom of the shoe, said means including a support forthe presser which is capable of yielding, means constructed and arrangedto cause the presser to exert during the whole of the yielding movementof the support a substantially uniform pressure of predeterminedmagnitude, and adjusting means for varying the magnitude of the pressureindependent of the pressure of fluid in the pressure box.

8. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a pressurebox for fluid one wall of which comprises a flexible diaphragm forpressing a sole against the bottom of a shoe, a jack for supporting theshoe against pressure applied through the diaphragm, a shank pressermounted in the box for movement toward that wall of the box which isopposite the diaphragm, means for causing relative movement of approachof the shoe and the presser, and means for causing the presser duringthe whole extent of its movement to exert upon the shank portion of thesole a substantially uniform pressure.

9. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a pressurebox for fluid one wall of which comprises a flexible diaphragm forpressing a sole against the bottom of a shoe, a jack for supporting theshoe against pressure applied through the diaphragm, a shank pressermounted in the box for movement toward that wall of the box which isopposite the diaphragm, means for causing relative movement of approachbetween the shoe and the presser, means for causing the presser duringthe Whole extent of its movement to exert upon the shank portion of thesole a substantially uniform pressure, and means for adjusting thepresser into different initial positions in the pressure box.

10. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a pressurebox for fluid one wall of which comprises a flexible diaphragm forpressing a sole against the bottom of a shoe, a jack for supporting theshoe against pressure applied through the diaphragm, a shank pressermounted in the box for movement toward that wall of the box which isopposite the diaphragm, means for causing the presser during the wholeextent of its movement to exert upon the shank portion of the sole asubstantially uniform pressure, and means for varying the magnitude ofthe pressure independent of the pressure of fluid in the pressure box.

11. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a pressurebox for fluid One wall of which comprises a flexible diaphragm forpressing a sole against the bottom of a shoe, a jack for supporting theshoe against pressure applied through the diaphragm, a shank presserlocated in the pressure box, means for causing the presser to press theshank portion of the sole against the bottom of the shoe, said meansincluding a yielding support for the presser constructed and arranged tocause the presser to exert during the whole of the yielding movement ofits support a substantially uniform pressure of predetermined magnitude,and means for adjusting the presser into different initial positions.

12. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a pressurebox for fluid one wall of which comprises a flexible diaphragm forpressing a sole against the bottom of a shoe, a jack for supporting theshoe against pressure applied through the diaphragm, a shank presser,and means for causing it to press the diaphragm against the sole of theshoe, said means including mechanism for supporting the presser againstmovement with respect to the box until a certain predetermined pressurehas been exerted by it and for thereafter permitting it to move whilemaintaining said pressure substantially unchanged.

13. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a pressurebox for fluid one wall of which comprises a flexible diaphragm forpressing a sole against the bottom of a shoe, a jack for supporting theshoe against pressure applied through the diaphragm, a shank presserlocated on the opposite side of the diaphragm from the shoe, a movingpart outside the box, and means for actuating the presser from themoving 1 A machine of the class described having, in combination, apressure box for fluid one wall of which comprises a flexible diaphragmfor pressing a sole against the bottom of a shoe, a jack for supportingthe shoe against pressure applied through the diaphragm, a shank presserlocated on the opposite side of the diaphragm from the shoe, a movingpart outside the box, and means including a member capable of yieldingfor actuating the presser from the moving part.

15. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a pressurebox for fluid one wall of which comprises a flexible diaphragm forpressing a sole against the bottom of a shoe, a jack for supporting theshoe against pressure applied through the diaphragm, a shank presserlocated on the opposite side of the diaphragm from the shoe, and meansfor moving the shank presser toward and from the shoe.

16. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a pressurebox for fluid one wall of which comprises a flexible diaphragm forpressing a sole against the bottom of a shoe, a jack for supporting theshoe against pressure applied through the diaphragm, a shank presserlocated on the opposite side of the diaphragm from the shoe, means formoving the shank presser toward and from the shoe, and means for varyingthe force applied by the presser to the sole.

17. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a pressurebox for fluid one wall of which comprises a flexible diaphragm forpressing a sole against the bottom of a shoe, a jack for supporting theshoe against pressure applied through the diaphragm, a shank presserlocated on the opposite side of the diaphragm from the shoe, a supportfor the shank presser which is capable of yielding, and means for movingthe support toward and from the shoe.

18. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a pressurebox for fluid one wall of which comprises a flexible diaphragm forpressing a sole against the bottom of a shoe, a jack for supporting theshoe against pressure applied through the diaphragm, and a shank presserthe pressure exerted by which is fluid-com trolled for exerting pressurethrough the diaphragm upon the shank portion of the sole.

19. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a pressurebox for fluid one wall of which comprises a flexible diaphragm forpressing a sole against the bottom of a shoe, a jack for supporting theshoe against pressure applied through the diaphragm, a shank presser thepressure exerted by which is fluid-controlled for exerting pressurethrough the diaphragm upon the shank portion of the sole, and means forvarying the pressure exerted by the shank presser independent of thepressure of fluid in the box.

20. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a pressurebox for fluid one wall of which comprises a flexible diaphragm forpressing a sole against the bottom of a shoe, a jack for supporting theshoe against pressure applied through the diaphragm, a shank presser anda fluid-controlled member responsive to relative movement of approachbetween it and the bottom of the shoe for supporting the shank presser.

21. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a pressurebox for fluid one wall of which comprises a flexible diaphragm forpressing a sole against the bottom of a shoe, a jack for supporting theshoe against pressure applied through the diaphragm, a shank presser anda fluid-controlled member responsive to relative movement of approachbetween it and the bottom of the shoe for supporting the shank presser,said member including a cylinder, a plunger, an outlet port connectedwith the interior of the cylinder beneath the plunger, and a reliefvalve for permitting escape of fluid from the cylinder.

22. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a pressurebox for fluid one wall of which comprises a flexible diaphragm forpressing a sole against the bottom of a shoe, a jack for supporting theshoe against pressure applied through the diaphragm, a shank presser anda fluid-controlled member responsive to relative movement of approachbetween it and the bottom of the shoe for supporting the shank presser,said member including a cylinder, a plunger, an outlet port connectedwith the interior of the cylinder beneath the plunger, a relief valvefor permitting escape of fluid from the cylinder, and means for varyingthe magnitude of fluid pressure in the cylinder necessary to open therelief valve.

23. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a pressurebox for fluid one wall of which comprises a flexible diaphragm forpressing a sole against the bottom of a shoe, a jackfor supporting theshoe against pressure applied through the diaphragm, a shank presser,means for causing the shank presser to press the diaphragm against theshank portion of the sole of a high-arched shoe, and means for renderingthe shank presser inoperative when a sole is to be pressed on alow-arched shoe.

24. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a pressurebox for fluid one wall of which comprises a flexible diaphragm forpressing a sole against the bottom of a shoe, a jack for supporting theshoe against pressure applied through the diaphragm, a shank presser,means for operating the shank presser to press the diaphragm against theshank portion of the sole of a high-arched shoe, and a membermanipulation of which renders the shank presser operating meansineffective so as to adapt the machine to press the sole on a low-archedshoe.

25. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a pressurebox for fluid one wall of which comprises a flexible diaphragm forpressing a sole against the bottom of a shoe, a jack for supporting theshoe against pressure applied through the diaphragm, means for forcingfluid into the box to press the diaphragm against the sole, a shankpresser, and means operated by the fluid-forcing means for operating theshank presser.

26. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a pressurebox one wall of which comprises a flexible diaphragm for pressing a soleagainst the bottom of a shoe, a jack for supporting the shoe againstpressure exerted through the diaphragm, said machine including a memberwhich moves with respect to the pressure box, a shank presser located onthe opposite side of the diaphragm from the shoe, and means foroperating the shank presser from the moving member.

2'7. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a pressurebox one wall of which comprises a flexible diaphragm for pressing a soleagainst the bottom of a shoe, a jack for supporting the shoe againstpressure exerted through the diaphragm, said machine including a memberwhich moves with respect to the pressure box, a shank presser located onthe opposite side of the diaphragm from the shoe,

pressure box, a shank presser, and fluid-con-' trolled means fortransmitting movement from the moving member to the shank presser.

29. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a pressurebox one wall of which comprises a flexible diaphragm for pressing a soleagainst the bottom of a shoe, a jack for supporting the shoe againstpressure exerted through the diaphragm, said machine including a memberwhich moves with respect to the pressure box, a shank presser, andfluid-controlled means for transmitting movement from the moving memberto the shank presser, said fluid-controlled means comprising a cylinder,a plunger in the cylinder and a valve adapted to permit escape of fluidfrom the cylinder when a force of predetermined magnitude has beenapplied to the shank presser.

30. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a pressurebox for fluid one wall of which comprises a flexible diaphragm forpressing a sole against the bottom of a shoe, a jack for supporting theshoe against pressure applied through the diaphragm, means for causingsuch pressure by relative movement of approach of the jack and the box,a shank presser adapted tobe forced against the diaphragm by saidrelative movement, and means for varying said force irrespective of thefluid pressure in the I box.

31. A machine of the class described having,

in combination, a pressure box for fluid one wall of which comprises aflexible diaphragm for pressing a sole against the bottom of a shoe, ajack for supporting the shoe against pressure applied through thediaphragm, means for causing such pressure by relative movement ofapproach of the jack and the box, a shank presser located on theopposite side of the diaphragm from the shoe, and means for adjustingthe shank presser into difierent initial positions.

32. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a pressurebox for fluid one wall of which comprises a flexible diaphragm forpressing a sole against the bottom of a shoe, a jack for supporting theshoe against pressure applied through the diaphragm, means for causingsuch pressure by relative movement of approach of the jack and the box,a yielding shank presser adapted to be moved by said relative movement,and means for causing the presser, during the whole extent of itsyielding movement, to exert upon the sole a substantially uniformpressure.

33. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a pressurebox for fluid one wall of which comprises a flexible diaphragm forpressing a sole against the bottom of a shoe, a jack for supporting theshoe against pressure applied through the diaphragm, means for causingsuch pressure by relative movement of approach of the jack and the box,a shank presser rendered operative by such relative movement, andfluidcontrolled supporting means for the presser constructed andarranged to yield when a certain predetermined pressure has been exertedupon the sole of the shoe, and to maintain this pressure substantiallyunchanged during the whole of the yielding movement.

34. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a pressurebox for fluid one wall of which comprises a flexible diaphragm forpressing a sole against the bottom of a shoe, a jack for supporting theshoe against pressure applied through the diaphragm, means for causingsuch pressure by relative movement of approach of the jack and the box,a shank presser located on the opposite side of the diaphragm from theshoe and rendered operative by such relative movement, and means forvarying the initial position of said presser.

35. A machine of the class described having, in rombination, pressurebox for fluid one wall of which comprises a flexible diaphragm forpressing a sole against the bottom of a shoe, a jack for supporting theshoe against pressure applied through the diaphragm, means for causingsuch pressure by relative movement of approach oi the jack and the box,a shank presser located on the opposite side of the diaphragm from theshoe, and means including a spring for supporting the presser.

A machine of the class described having, in combination, a pressure boxfor fluid one wall of which comprises a flexible diaphragm for press inga sole against the bottom of a shoe, a jack for supporting the shoeagainst pressure applied through the diaphragm, means for causing suchpressure by relative movement of approach of the jack and the box, ashank presser located in and movable with respect to the box, andyielding means for supporting the presser including a spring the lengthof which is sufficiently great in comparison with the extent of theyielding movement of the presser so that the pressure exerted by thepresser during the whole of its yielding movement in substantiallyuniform.

37. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a pressurebox for fluid one wall of which comprises a flexible diaphragm forpressing a sole against the bottom of a shoe, a jack for supporting theshoe against pressure applied through the diaphragm, a shank presser,and means for causing the shank presser to exert pressure against theshank portion of the sole, said means including a rigid supportingmember for the presser and a spring for sustaining the supportingmember.

38. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a pressurebox for fluid one wall of which comprises a flexible diaphragm forpressing a sole against the bottom of a shoe, a jack for supporting theshoe against pressure applied through the diaphragm, a shank presser,and means for causing the shank pressor to exert pressure against theshank portion of the sole, said means including a rigid supportingmember for the presser and a spring for sustaining the supportingmember, said spring being of sufficient length in comparison to theextent to which it is compressed as to exert a substantially uniformpressure during its compression.

39. In a sole laying machine having a pressure box for fluid one wall ofwhich comprises a flexible diaphragm, a shank pressing device adapted topress the diaphragm against the shank portion of the sole of a shoe,said device comprising a pad of resilient material mounted on a carrierof rigid material.

40. In a sole laying machine having a pressure box for fluid one wall ofwhich comprises a flexible diaphragm, a shank pressing device adapted topress the diaphragm against the shank portion of the sole of a shoe,said device comprising a pad of resilient material mounted on a carrierof rigid material, the pad having in one of its faces a depression toaccommodate the breast of the heel of the shoe.

ll. In a sole laying machine having a pressure box for fluid one wall ofwhich comprises a flexible diaphragm, a shank pressing device adapted topress the diaphragm against the shank portion of the sole of a shoe,said device comprising a pad of resilient material mounted on a carrierof rigid material, the pad having spaced projections adapted to engagethe diaphragm at localities where the diaphragm overlies opposite edgesof the sole.

42. In a sole laying machine in which a carrier for a jack is swung intooperative and inoperative position, mechanism for sustaining the shoeagainst tipping during the subsequent application of pressure, saidmechanism comprising two supporting members movable toward and from eachother, and means operated by the swinging of the jack carrier toinoperative position for moving the supporting members away from eachother and by the swinging of the jack carrier into operative positionfor moving the supporting members toward each other.

43. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a pressurebox for fluid one wall of which comprises a flexible diaphragm, a jackfor supporting a shoe against pressure applied through the diaphragm, ashank presser located beneath the diaphragm, and means for distendingthe diaphragm and for causing the presser to press the shank portion ofthe sole against the shank portion of the shoe, said jack comprising ajack post having at its operative end a lastcontaoting member adjustablelengthwise of the shoe to balance the shoe against pressure applied bythe shank presser.

44. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a flexiblemember for pressing a sole against the bottom of a shoe, a jack forsupporting the shoe against pressure applied through the flexiblemember, a shank presser located on the opposite side of the flexiblemember from the shoe, means for moving the shank presser toward theshoe, and means for varying the force applied by the presser.

45. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a flexiblemember for pressing a sole against the bottom of a shoe, a jack forsupporting the shoe against pressure applied through the flexiblemember, a shank presser mounted for swinging movement, said shankpresser being located on the opposite side of the flexible member fromthe shoe, and means for swinging the shank presser toward the shoe.

46. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a pressurebox for fluid one wall of which comprises a flexible diaphragm forpressing a sole against.the bottom of a shoe, a jack for supporting theshoe against pressure applied through the diaphragm, a shank presser offlexible resilient material adapted to exert pressure entirely acrossthe shank portion of the sole, a driven part of the machine independentof the jack and the pressure box, and means for actuating the presserfrom the driven part.

47. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a pressurebox for fluid one wall of which comprises a flexible diaphragm forpressing a sole against the bottom of a shoe, a jack for supporting theshoe against pressure applied through the diaphragm, a shank presser ofresilient' material adapted to exert pressure entirely across the shankportion of the sole, a driven part of the machine independent of thejack and the pressure box, and means including a yielding member foractuating the presser from the driven 10 part.

combination, a pressure box for fluid one wall of which comprises aflexible diaphragm for pressing a sole against the bottom of a shoe,'ajack for supporting the shoe against pressure applied through thediaphragm, a shank presser of resilient material adapted to exertpressure entirely across the shank portion of the sole, and means formoving the shank presser toward and from the shoe.

SIDNEY J. FINN.

